A row between colleagues nearly turned deadly as a disgrutled woman secretly tried to harm her co-worker for weeks before she was caught

We've all overheard the odd workplace row from time to time, but this woman went to disturbing lengths to get revenge on her colleague.

After her co-worker reported her for poor workplace performance, this calculated criminal sprayed a toxic substance into her cup of tea in a warped poison plot.

Chilling footage, later used as key evidence in court, shows the woman calmly browsing a shelf stocked with cleaning products before selecting a bright green bottle. 56-year-old Małgorzata W is then seen spraying the substance directly into a tea cup, carefully mixing it into the drink before placing it back exactly where she found it.

The footage then shows the woman wiping her fingerprints from a teaspoon in an attempt to avoid detection. Prosecutors later revealed that this was not an isolated incident, but part of a sustained poisoning campaign that unfolded over several weeks.

Małgorzata has now been sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay a substantial fine after being found guilty in Poland. Judges ruled that she had deliberately and repeatedly targeted her colleague in what they described as a premeditated attempt to cause serious harm.

Her victim, a 51-year-old co-worker, first began to suspect something was wrong when drinks she had left unattended started to change colour and develop an unusual, unpleasant taste.

At first, she shrugged it off, but as they continued, her concerns quickly turned into fear. After consuming the contaminated tea, she began suffering from a range of alarming symptoms.

These included severe stomach pain, breathing difficulties, a burning sensation in her throat and repeated episodes of fainting. The symptoms became progressively worse, prompting urgent medical attention.

Doctors later confirmed that she had suffered serious internal chemical burns. The toxic substances had damaged the mucous membranes of her mouth, oesophagus and stomach - injuries consistent with ingesting cleaning agents and industrial chemicals.

Medical experts warned that the consequences could have been far more severe, even fatal, had the poisoning continued undetected.

Realising her health was in danger and convinced she was being deliberately targeted, the victim took matters into her own hands and installed a hidden camera in the workplace kitchen area.

The camera captured clear and damning footage of the cleaner contaminating the drinks. In one particularly chilling recording, the poisoner can be heard speaking casually on the phone to a friend.

Referring to the unattended drink, she said: "The tea is standing there, so you know what that means." Moments later, she proceeds to add a toxic substance to the cup.

The court heard that the poisoning campaign took place over a six-week period, between November 15 and December 27, 2024. During this time, the victim was repeatedly exposed to dangerous chemicals without her knowledge.

Laboratory tests later confirmed that cleaning products and detergents had been added to the drinks on multiple occasions. Experts stressed that such substances are highly dangerous when ingested, posing a serious risk to life and long-term health.

Investigators said both women were employed by a cleaning company responsible for servicing a Polish Radio building on Mysliwiecka Street in Warsaw. According to findings presented in court, tensions between the pair had been growing in the weeks leading up to the attacks.

The victim had raised concerns about her colleague's work performance, pointing out mistakes on the job. Prosecutors suggested that this may have fuelled resentment, ultimately leading to the shocking acts of retaliation.

The case also involved another woman, Elzbieta D, who was accused of being aware of the poison plot but failing to report it. However, after reviewing the evidence, the court acquitted her of all charges, finding insufficient proof that she had knowingly allowed the attacks to continue.

Małgorzata was found guilty last week of attempting to cause serious bodily harm. In delivering the sentence, judges emphasised the calculated and prolonged nature of the offences, noting that her actions placed the victim's life at significant risk.